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Chickenpox
This biographical historical middle-grade graphic novel is about eldest sister Abby, who is sick of being trapped at home with her FOUR younger siblings as they all suffer from the chickenpox.
All big sister Abby wants is to spend more time with her friends, far away from the sticky fingers and snooping eyes of her annoying brothers and sisters. But when a case of the chickenpox leaves the Lai kids covered in scratchy red spots and stuck at home together for two weeks of nonstop mayhem, Abby thinks this might be the end . . . of her sanity. Yet she feels responsible for the situation since her best friend was Patient Zero and brought chickenpox into their home.
Will the itch to escape her siblings overwhelm Abby or will she realize being a big sister isn’t all bad?
All big sister Abby wants is to spend more time with her friends, far away from the sticky fingers and snooping eyes of her annoying brothers and sisters. But when a case of the chickenpox leaves the Lai kids covered in scratchy red spots and stuck at home together for two weeks of nonstop mayhem, Abby thinks this might be the end . . . of her sanity. Yet she feels responsible for the situation since her best friend was Patient Zero and brought chickenpox into their home.
Will the itch to escape her siblings overwhelm Abby or will she realize being a big sister isn’t all bad?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
January 12, 2025
A new MG graphic novel about five siblings stuck at home with chickenpox!
🐔
Abby just wants to hang out with her friends, away from the chaos for her younger siblings. But when a chickenpox outbreak strikes and leaves the Lai kids covered in itchy red spots, Abby’s plans for peace and quiet are dashed. Stuck at home together for two long weeks, the house is filled with nonstop chaos. Abby blames herself, though, since it’s her best friend who brought the chickenpox into their lives. As the madness of family life threatens to push Abby to the edge, Abby must decide where she’ll let her frustration get the best of her, or she’ll find a way to embrace the role of big sister.
🔴
Anyone who has had chickenpox or lived in a house with someone who has with completely relate to this story. I loved that the book is set in the 90s because that’s when I had chickenpox myself! This was full of hijinks, misunderstandings and family drama! Happy Release Day!
CW: medical content
🐔
Abby just wants to hang out with her friends, away from the chaos for her younger siblings. But when a chickenpox outbreak strikes and leaves the Lai kids covered in itchy red spots, Abby’s plans for peace and quiet are dashed. Stuck at home together for two long weeks, the house is filled with nonstop chaos. Abby blames herself, though, since it’s her best friend who brought the chickenpox into their lives. As the madness of family life threatens to push Abby to the edge, Abby must decide where she’ll let her frustration get the best of her, or she’ll find a way to embrace the role of big sister.
🔴
Anyone who has had chickenpox or lived in a house with someone who has with completely relate to this story. I loved that the book is set in the 90s because that’s when I had chickenpox myself! This was full of hijinks, misunderstandings and family drama! Happy Release Day!
CW: medical content
March 5, 2025
Set in the 1990's Chickenpox is a fabulously funny graphic novel narrated by the eldest of five siblings, twelve-year-old Abby Lai.
Abby tries to get away from her siblings any chance she gets. She'd rather spend time with her friends far away from her annoying brothers and sisters. But when they all come down with chickenpox Abby is trapped inside, for two whole weeks.
I found Chickenpox to be outrageously funny. You don't need to have had chickenpox to imagine what it would be like trapped inside with your younger siblings.
Plenty of hijinks and antics abound as Abby not only tries to entertain her siblings but also has to navigate friendships by phone whilst always wondering what is going on at school in her absence.
Luckily we now have a vaccine available for chickenpox so readers of Remy Lai's novel may not know the constant itch and isolation but I am sure their parents can remember and have some stories to tell.
Content warning if buying for younger readers: it does mention that Santa isn't real.
Abby tries to get away from her siblings any chance she gets. She'd rather spend time with her friends far away from her annoying brothers and sisters. But when they all come down with chickenpox Abby is trapped inside, for two whole weeks.
I found Chickenpox to be outrageously funny. You don't need to have had chickenpox to imagine what it would be like trapped inside with your younger siblings.
Plenty of hijinks and antics abound as Abby not only tries to entertain her siblings but also has to navigate friendships by phone whilst always wondering what is going on at school in her absence.
Luckily we now have a vaccine available for chickenpox so readers of Remy Lai's novel may not know the constant itch and isolation but I am sure their parents can remember and have some stories to tell.
Content warning if buying for younger readers: it does mention that Santa isn't real.
March 15, 2025
I’m a huge fan of Remy Lai and this book was fantastic! Full of family and friendship dynamics and super relatable for kids (and adults). Set in the 90s, there are plenty of differences from today that kids will pick up on (no cell phones, streaming services or devices). Perfect for fans of Megan Wagner Lloyd (Allergic, Squished), Raina Telgemeier and Kristen Gudsnuck.
March 26, 2025
Cute, relatable story about dealing with siblings and how misunderstandings with friends can snowball. I liked how she doesn't give a character sheet for the siblings until the end, when she starts seeing them as individuals instead of all those babies.
February 18, 2025
Not only is it tough being a tween, its tough catching chickenpox and being stuck at home with all your siblings who drive you crazy. Remy Lai brings together another beautifully illustrated graphic novel about the trials and tribulations of being 12, and having a hoard of siblings to contend with. This middle-grade read (and keep it to middle grade because it DOES discuss a few mythical beings and them not being real) is a heart-warming journey into a week in the life of big sister Abby. Full of relatable family drama, this is sure to be a hit with kids.
October 8, 2024
Adorable story with adorable art work! Give this one to fans of Raina Telgemeier's Guts. Abby is over her all her siblings ("animal") that share her home ("Zoo"). Suddenly, due to a contagious virus, she is now quarantined at home with all of them, for days on end! I love the character development we see for several of the family members and Abby's two friends. Full of relatable friend drama, misunderstandings, and family members that you truly love but also can't stand, MG readers will love this one.
March 10, 2025
Good graphic novel about a family of five siblings who come down with the Chickenpox together!
Reminded me of my bout with the 'pox in the late 80s. I didn't have any siblings to share my quarantine with, though. (I do have an older brother, but he would have been in his first year of college at that time.)
Some friend and school drama thrown in for extra tension, and you have a well rounded middle grades graphic novel.
Reminded me of my bout with the 'pox in the late 80s. I didn't have any siblings to share my quarantine with, though. (I do have an older brother, but he would have been in his first year of college at that time.)
Some friend and school drama thrown in for extra tension, and you have a well rounded middle grades graphic novel.
July 11, 2025
I thought this did a really good job of capturing the relationships between siblings in a large family. I thought the oldest sister’s reactions were very accurate for her age and I appreciated the growth everyone experienced by the end of the book. Some of the art wasn’t quite my favorite, but it all around it was a good story. Any kid in a large family will relate.
February 23, 2025
Not my favorite but would be good for readers who like that slice of life type style
March 15, 2025
I love this book it’s so true the only thing I don’t like was the fact that the friends just didn’t seem realistic. I love this book I definitely recommend.-Romy age 8
February 26, 2025
This graphic novel is so great! I love Remy Lai’s style of illustrating! I love how Abigail grows closer to her siblings durning the chickenpox. Highly recommend for middle graders!
December 9, 2025
One girl and all her siblings and one big case of chickenpox, will anyone come out of it? This was fun!
😍 Loved the art. It was such a fun one!
😍 Loved seeing Abby grow/mature as the story continued and the chickenpox continued to be chickenpox. I loved how she tried to help our her mom whenever she could, loved seeing her think about her siblings and helps them instead of arguing all the time.
😍 Love the cover. The pure chaos that is in this book captured in one image on the cover.
😍 Love that it took place in Indonesia though of course most of the setting is either school or the house, I would have definitely loved to see more of the country!
😍 Loved that she and her siblings became a bit kinder to each other, still not 100% but there is progress and I will take that.
😍 Liked seeing her own up for her mistakes in regards to her friend (though her friends were asses to begin with). I was already worried she would just not go for it, but in the end she talks things out and I was so proud of her.
😍 I loved that the chickenpox weren’t done and over before you know it. I have read quite a few books that were about a topic and that topic is only a small bit. But in this one it is truly around the whole time (well, OK, except the beginning).
😂 Sorry did have a laugh that they were all stuck together in the house because of chickenpox. It was interesting that they got it that late though (with the oldest being 12).
😑 Didn’t like any of the siblings. But I guess that is because you see it through Abby’s eyes, but ye lord the kids were all so annoying and frustrating, not caring about the other at all
😑 The mom really needs to stop with going for the oldest when something happens. Just look at both sides and talk to them both, not just go You are the oldest so….
All in all, a good graphic novel and I would recommend it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
😍 Loved the art. It was such a fun one!
😍 Loved seeing Abby grow/mature as the story continued and the chickenpox continued to be chickenpox. I loved how she tried to help our her mom whenever she could, loved seeing her think about her siblings and helps them instead of arguing all the time.
😍 Love the cover. The pure chaos that is in this book captured in one image on the cover.
😍 Love that it took place in Indonesia though of course most of the setting is either school or the house, I would have definitely loved to see more of the country!
😍 Loved that she and her siblings became a bit kinder to each other, still not 100% but there is progress and I will take that.
😍 Liked seeing her own up for her mistakes in regards to her friend (though her friends were asses to begin with). I was already worried she would just not go for it, but in the end she talks things out and I was so proud of her.
😍 I loved that the chickenpox weren’t done and over before you know it. I have read quite a few books that were about a topic and that topic is only a small bit. But in this one it is truly around the whole time (well, OK, except the beginning).
😂 Sorry did have a laugh that they were all stuck together in the house because of chickenpox. It was interesting that they got it that late though (with the oldest being 12).
😑 Didn’t like any of the siblings. But I guess that is because you see it through Abby’s eyes, but ye lord the kids were all so annoying and frustrating, not caring about the other at all
😑 The mom really needs to stop with going for the oldest when something happens. Just look at both sides and talk to them both, not just go You are the oldest so….
All in all, a good graphic novel and I would recommend it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
November 24, 2024
4 stars
This is a great middle grade novel for its target audience, but it's also a rock-solid trip in the way back machine for those of us who are contemporaries with the author (or...have even lived a little longer).
Abby is giving oldest child energy from cover to cover (literally), and any reader with siblings will be immediately drawn to the complex ways that sibling dynamics evolve, even at very young ages. My suspicion is that solo kids will also find these relationships fascinating. Like all good middle grade protagonists, Abby isn't just learning to balance one challenge. In addition to her big sister role, Abby is also struggling to navigate her friendships, potential burgeoning romance (this is so chaste and level appropriate), and questions about where and how she does and does not fit in throughout the various areas of her young life. You thought chickenpox were irritating? They cannot compare to the horrors of preteen life.
I enjoyed this so much, even considering the periodic phantom itching it provoked! There's great character development, multiple issues get covered without feeling didactic, and there is also some cultural representation I don't often access. I'll definitely be recommending this one to students.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This is a great middle grade novel for its target audience, but it's also a rock-solid trip in the way back machine for those of us who are contemporaries with the author (or...have even lived a little longer).
Abby is giving oldest child energy from cover to cover (literally), and any reader with siblings will be immediately drawn to the complex ways that sibling dynamics evolve, even at very young ages. My suspicion is that solo kids will also find these relationships fascinating. Like all good middle grade protagonists, Abby isn't just learning to balance one challenge. In addition to her big sister role, Abby is also struggling to navigate her friendships, potential burgeoning romance (this is so chaste and level appropriate), and questions about where and how she does and does not fit in throughout the various areas of her young life. You thought chickenpox were irritating? They cannot compare to the horrors of preteen life.
I enjoyed this so much, even considering the periodic phantom itching it provoked! There's great character development, multiple issues get covered without feeling didactic, and there is also some cultural representation I don't often access. I'll definitely be recommending this one to students.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
January 25, 2025
Kids these days don’t get chicken pox, because of the vaccine, but back in the day, this was a common thing to happen to school aged children. I remember getting it in kindergarten, and hating that I got it over Christmas, because I didn’t get any real time off for it.
In this story, which takes place in the 1990s, Remy tells how her siblings and her all got chicken pox at the same time, except she tells the story from her older sister, Abby’s point of view, which makes sense, as the story progresses, because the older sister is most exasperated by her siblings, especially how anything they do is always her fault for not watching them.
And of course there are misunderstandings with friends, while Abby is confined, and she tries to find out who is having a feud with who, and who likes what boy, without her siblings interfering with her phone calls.
It is a good family story too, as we see how even though the kids are all annoying, they really do care about each other at the same time.
I enjoyed the story, though I sympathized a lot with Abby, even though I was probably the annoying child, being third of the four children in my family.
This book is out now, from wherever it is you get your books.
In this story, which takes place in the 1990s, Remy tells how her siblings and her all got chicken pox at the same time, except she tells the story from her older sister, Abby’s point of view, which makes sense, as the story progresses, because the older sister is most exasperated by her siblings, especially how anything they do is always her fault for not watching them.
And of course there are misunderstandings with friends, while Abby is confined, and she tries to find out who is having a feud with who, and who likes what boy, without her siblings interfering with her phone calls.
It is a good family story too, as we see how even though the kids are all annoying, they really do care about each other at the same time.
I enjoyed the story, though I sympathized a lot with Abby, even though I was probably the annoying child, being third of the four children in my family.
This book is out now, from wherever it is you get your books.
February 19, 2025
This was so much fun! Loved how this is from Remy's oldest sister's point of view when the 5 siblings had chickenpox. And, wow, Remy was definitely a handful. Not only did this capture sibling life when everyone was quarantined, but it also delved into middle grade friendships. I laughed and cringed throughout the read (bc chickenpox, kind of icky). Kids of all ages will adore this.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
Staff Pick 2/25
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
Staff Pick 2/25
February 23, 2025
Remy Lai hilariously and accurately captures the complicated relationship between siblings. Hand to fans of “Squished” by Megan Wagner Lloyd and “Sisters” by Raina Telgemeier.
April 5, 2025
In my opinion, this book was more missed potential than anything which makes the book feel unnecessarily long at some points and the ending incredibly rushed.
*Some spoilers*
There were way too many storylines and little depth in any of them. The best friend plot that could've possibly been an interesting dynamic between the growing teenagers (especially since there were three of them, it could've been "claimed mature", "trying to be mature", and "still immature and doesn't care"), that's what I originally thought the "misunderstanding" would be but nope, it was just "oh I was apparently jealous of your relationship for the stupidest reason". Bro, really??? I get that they're preteens/young teenagers and that they'll fight over petty things but that was so dumb, I had to pause and take a moment to reread. It was just so anti-climactic and cliche, especially for a potentially interesting storyline of accidentally projecting her insecurities onto the main character. Instead, we got a flat character with no personality besides her being mean for one minute then it becoming a misunderstanding.
And the whole sibling plot didn't really change at all. She still finds her siblings annoying, yes, she understands one of their point of views more, but barely anything changed besides she was given a sermon by her aunt about how "special" siblings are and the cliche "me and my sibling were close once/never close and we never stay in contact". If I was the editor, I would've removed the aunt from the story all together. She did NOTHING to move the plot along besides preach and serve them dinner one night. That, and the younger siblings except for one, all have one personality trait: "annoying".
That's literally it. There's nothing else. One might be more aggressive than the other, but all their personalities sum up to being nuisances and destructive snitching crybabies. I really wish I could say that's an exaggeration, but only the second oldest girl has any personality that stands out amongst the others. She likes to read, she's introverted, and she takes on the responsibility when her sister doesn't want to. Cool, I guess.
Then, the "romance" (if you would call it that) was so poorly written, I was confused that I skipped a few pages. The main character (I don't remember her name), lashes out at the dude for little to no reason on his pov, then she tells him not to think about it. What?? She should've apologized the second she saw him, there was NO reason for him to forgive her. She should've, at least, told him what she told her besties about there being a misunderstanding over someone liking him and she told it out on him, but nope.
Despite me complaining about pretty much the whole book, I do have a few parts I liked. The character introductions with their zodiac, likes, dislikes, and main traits was interesting. I really liked who was a Sagittarius and Libra (my personal sign). The artstyle was nice, cute, and wholesome. The fashionista friend was my favorite character of the entire book (which isn't saying much but y'know), I also liked the boy. The short talk between the oldest and the second oldest kid was pretty good, and I wished they'd dived into that dynamic more. The description of the stages of chickenpox were informative and (I think) accurate, it gave me more an idea on what it's like to have chicken pox besides "ohhhh so itchyyyy".
In summary, the book either greatly disappointed me or greatly bored me and both led to my irritation towards this book. I really wished that in the end, the lesson was that "you can choose to love your siblings and still have your own space" with the oldest sibling training the younger (but older than the baby of the family) ones to accept that they're going to be seen as role models but that doesn't make up all their personality. They're still children and are allowed to be immature brats when they want to. That would've been a growth moment for them all. Maybe there would be a little bit of jealousy since they think "oh the older siblings have it the greatest" or "she has it the best" when, in reality, they're all dealing with the same thing. If they had to include the aunt, I wish that they would've made them a demonstration of two siblings still supporting each other while living their own lives so it's not "you either love your siblings or you hate them"
My ranking: 4/10 (the only reason it's this high is because of the potential and artstyle)
My ranking through stars: 2/5 (again, only because of artstyle)
My final thoughts: If you want to read a good book with good, fleshed out sibling dynamics that don't take a character shouting how you should treat them in your face to show that they love each other, read Kelly Yang's "Parachute Kids". That book is a gem.
*Some spoilers*
There were way too many storylines and little depth in any of them. The best friend plot that could've possibly been an interesting dynamic between the growing teenagers (especially since there were three of them, it could've been "claimed mature", "trying to be mature", and "still immature and doesn't care"), that's what I originally thought the "misunderstanding" would be but nope, it was just "oh I was apparently jealous of your relationship for the stupidest reason". Bro, really??? I get that they're preteens/young teenagers and that they'll fight over petty things but that was so dumb, I had to pause and take a moment to reread. It was just so anti-climactic and cliche, especially for a potentially interesting storyline of accidentally projecting her insecurities onto the main character. Instead, we got a flat character with no personality besides her being mean for one minute then it becoming a misunderstanding.
And the whole sibling plot didn't really change at all. She still finds her siblings annoying, yes, she understands one of their point of views more, but barely anything changed besides she was given a sermon by her aunt about how "special" siblings are and the cliche "me and my sibling were close once/never close and we never stay in contact". If I was the editor, I would've removed the aunt from the story all together. She did NOTHING to move the plot along besides preach and serve them dinner one night. That, and the younger siblings except for one, all have one personality trait: "annoying".
That's literally it. There's nothing else. One might be more aggressive than the other, but all their personalities sum up to being nuisances and destructive snitching crybabies. I really wish I could say that's an exaggeration, but only the second oldest girl has any personality that stands out amongst the others. She likes to read, she's introverted, and she takes on the responsibility when her sister doesn't want to. Cool, I guess.
Then, the "romance" (if you would call it that) was so poorly written, I was confused that I skipped a few pages. The main character (I don't remember her name), lashes out at the dude for little to no reason on his pov, then she tells him not to think about it. What?? She should've apologized the second she saw him, there was NO reason for him to forgive her. She should've, at least, told him what she told her besties about there being a misunderstanding over someone liking him and she told it out on him, but nope.
Despite me complaining about pretty much the whole book, I do have a few parts I liked. The character introductions with their zodiac, likes, dislikes, and main traits was interesting. I really liked who was a Sagittarius and Libra (my personal sign). The artstyle was nice, cute, and wholesome. The fashionista friend was my favorite character of the entire book (which isn't saying much but y'know), I also liked the boy. The short talk between the oldest and the second oldest kid was pretty good, and I wished they'd dived into that dynamic more. The description of the stages of chickenpox were informative and (I think) accurate, it gave me more an idea on what it's like to have chicken pox besides "ohhhh so itchyyyy".
In summary, the book either greatly disappointed me or greatly bored me and both led to my irritation towards this book. I really wished that in the end, the lesson was that "you can choose to love your siblings and still have your own space" with the oldest sibling training the younger (but older than the baby of the family) ones to accept that they're going to be seen as role models but that doesn't make up all their personality. They're still children and are allowed to be immature brats when they want to. That would've been a growth moment for them all. Maybe there would be a little bit of jealousy since they think "oh the older siblings have it the greatest" or "she has it the best" when, in reality, they're all dealing with the same thing. If they had to include the aunt, I wish that they would've made them a demonstration of two siblings still supporting each other while living their own lives so it's not "you either love your siblings or you hate them"
My ranking: 4/10 (the only reason it's this high is because of the potential and artstyle)
My ranking through stars: 2/5 (again, only because of artstyle)
My final thoughts: If you want to read a good book with good, fleshed out sibling dynamics that don't take a character shouting how you should treat them in your face to show that they love each other, read Kelly Yang's "Parachute Kids". That book is a gem.
September 9, 2024
E ARC provided by Netgalley.
In 1994, author Remy Lai was living with her family in Indonesia, but she tells the story of her family's bout with chicken pox from the point of view of her oldest sister, Abby. Abby is 12, Amy is 11, Remy is 8, Andy 6, and Tommy just 3. This makes the household a bit like "a wild zoo" from time to time. Abby will do just about anything to escape the ruckus, including taking piano lessons, and spending lots of time at her friends Julia and Monica's houses. When the two want to meet Abby's siblings, she reluctantly has them over, but when the kids pester them, Abby finds herself fighting with them. Julia makes the comment that Abby is acting like "a fourth grader", which hurts her feelings. Julia comes down with chicken pox and is out of school, and Abby is wary of hanging out with Monica because of the comment, hanging out with her friend who is a boy, Sandy. When the Lai's go to a local hotel pool to swim, Remy notices that she has mosquito bites, but when the other children seem to have them as well, they get hauled to Dr. Sutanto, who diagnoses chicken pox (called "watery pox" in Indonesian). Abby seems to have escaped them and is glad, since her siblings have to be quarantined for 7-10 days, but she wakes up the next morning with them as well. The progression of the disease is nicely laid out for modern readers who have not experienced this; there's even a nice author's note talking about the vaccine that was available shortly after her experiences. Everyone is sick and laid low for a while; Abby rebounds a bit more quickly, so ends up trying to help her mother and amuse and cater to her brothers and sisters. Sometimes this goes awry, like the time that she suggest the forbidden game of "ghost" that involves covering each other with flour. Abby ends up having to clean up the mess, and as the oldest, is always blamed. Things are difficult with Julia and Monica; at one point, Abby calls Julia, and based on their conversation comes to the conclusion that she "like likes" Sandy. She tells Monica this, and is surprised that Monica is a little cold toward her. At one point, Abby calls Julia's house, but ends up telling Julia's mother that the remark about being like a fourth grader hurt her feelings, and Julia's mother cancels a birthday party. Abby is later able to fix this mistake. There are some sisterly successes, like when Abby must watch the other children while her mother takes Tommy to the doctor because his chicken pox have become infected, and she encourages them all to create a library with check out cards, and this keeps them amused for some time. Eventually, everyone gets better, and Abby manages to talk to her friends and figure things out, so that when she returns to school, it's not so bad.
Strengths: This is definitely a historical topic that we needed, before all of the authors are too young to remember what having chicken pox is like! Having it set in a family with five children makes it much more interesting; of course they all got sick at the same time. Adding a bit of friend drama, and explaining how the land line was the only way to communicate was a good move. There are some other things like VHS tapes and video rental stores that also have a tiny bit of explanation for middle school students, who at this point in time were born around 2010-2013! This was a fun but informative graphic novel from the author of Ghost Book, Pie in the Sky, and other popular titles.
Weaknesses: There could have been a few more 1990s references, but since this is set in Thailand, the popular culture was probably not quite the same. There are some good fashion depictions; I'm glad that chicken pox are gone, but we could use more bright colors! I was a little surprised that Abby and her siblings scratched their pox; I remember being coated in calamine lotion and being told that horrible things would happen to me if I scratched (I was younger than Remy!). I remember my mother taking her long fingernails and trying to scratch in between my pox!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want a historic look at a bygone disease, or who enjoy graphic novels with family interactions, like Lloyd's Squished or Tang's Parachute Kids.
In 1994, author Remy Lai was living with her family in Indonesia, but she tells the story of her family's bout with chicken pox from the point of view of her oldest sister, Abby. Abby is 12, Amy is 11, Remy is 8, Andy 6, and Tommy just 3. This makes the household a bit like "a wild zoo" from time to time. Abby will do just about anything to escape the ruckus, including taking piano lessons, and spending lots of time at her friends Julia and Monica's houses. When the two want to meet Abby's siblings, she reluctantly has them over, but when the kids pester them, Abby finds herself fighting with them. Julia makes the comment that Abby is acting like "a fourth grader", which hurts her feelings. Julia comes down with chicken pox and is out of school, and Abby is wary of hanging out with Monica because of the comment, hanging out with her friend who is a boy, Sandy. When the Lai's go to a local hotel pool to swim, Remy notices that she has mosquito bites, but when the other children seem to have them as well, they get hauled to Dr. Sutanto, who diagnoses chicken pox (called "watery pox" in Indonesian). Abby seems to have escaped them and is glad, since her siblings have to be quarantined for 7-10 days, but she wakes up the next morning with them as well. The progression of the disease is nicely laid out for modern readers who have not experienced this; there's even a nice author's note talking about the vaccine that was available shortly after her experiences. Everyone is sick and laid low for a while; Abby rebounds a bit more quickly, so ends up trying to help her mother and amuse and cater to her brothers and sisters. Sometimes this goes awry, like the time that she suggest the forbidden game of "ghost" that involves covering each other with flour. Abby ends up having to clean up the mess, and as the oldest, is always blamed. Things are difficult with Julia and Monica; at one point, Abby calls Julia, and based on their conversation comes to the conclusion that she "like likes" Sandy. She tells Monica this, and is surprised that Monica is a little cold toward her. At one point, Abby calls Julia's house, but ends up telling Julia's mother that the remark about being like a fourth grader hurt her feelings, and Julia's mother cancels a birthday party. Abby is later able to fix this mistake. There are some sisterly successes, like when Abby must watch the other children while her mother takes Tommy to the doctor because his chicken pox have become infected, and she encourages them all to create a library with check out cards, and this keeps them amused for some time. Eventually, everyone gets better, and Abby manages to talk to her friends and figure things out, so that when she returns to school, it's not so bad.
Strengths: This is definitely a historical topic that we needed, before all of the authors are too young to remember what having chicken pox is like! Having it set in a family with five children makes it much more interesting; of course they all got sick at the same time. Adding a bit of friend drama, and explaining how the land line was the only way to communicate was a good move. There are some other things like VHS tapes and video rental stores that also have a tiny bit of explanation for middle school students, who at this point in time were born around 2010-2013! This was a fun but informative graphic novel from the author of Ghost Book, Pie in the Sky, and other popular titles.
Weaknesses: There could have been a few more 1990s references, but since this is set in Thailand, the popular culture was probably not quite the same. There are some good fashion depictions; I'm glad that chicken pox are gone, but we could use more bright colors! I was a little surprised that Abby and her siblings scratched their pox; I remember being coated in calamine lotion and being told that horrible things would happen to me if I scratched (I was younger than Remy!). I remember my mother taking her long fingernails and trying to scratch in between my pox!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want a historic look at a bygone disease, or who enjoy graphic novels with family interactions, like Lloyd's Squished or Tang's Parachute Kids.
December 7, 2025
PARENTS BEWARE!!!
So here’s the deal. I actually really enjoyed this book, however I feel like I can’t give it more than a two star. And honestly I would give it a 1 star if I didn’t like it as much as I did because on page 8…. Yes page 8!!!!!!! It literally ruins Santa. This is marketed towards young kids. In fact, I picked this up at my schools scholastic book fair. (Elementary school- grades 2-4) every single one of my students still believe in Santa. And now that I’ve read this I’m very scared and nervous if anyone purchased this book. It’s such a shame too because I actually love how informative the book is.
Some other issues I have with the book is the way it brings up the chucky doll. It literally explains that chucky is a serial killer doll. Again I feel like I’m beating a dead horse here but this is marketed for CHILDREN! Why do children need to learn about a serial killer doll? And I have to emphasize that neither of topics are necessary towards the plot of this book! They are just brought up for no reason!!!!
Since I’m on my soap box I’m going to keep going here… I also HATE how the sibling relationship is portrayed. Obviously it gets better and explains that siblings are a blessing but the amount of fighting and random name calling is a bit excessive. I understand siblings fight and I do agree that this is important to talk about in children’s books to get kids to understand that even though siblings can be annoying they are a blessing in the long run, it was a bit overkill in this book.
Otherwise I really loved the way it explains chickenpox and dives into siblings relationships as well as friendships and miscommunication. I also really loved how the main character stands up for her siblings and friends. Her realizations are super important for kids to read about, I just wish it was more geared towards that than the other random and unnecessary blurbs of inappropriate comments thrown around in the book.
PARENTS BEWARE!!!
So here’s the deal. I actually really enjoyed this book, however I feel like I can’t give it more than a two star. And honestly I would give it a 1 star if I didn’t like it as much as I did because on page 8…. Yes page 8!!!!!!! It literally ruins Santa. This is marketed towards young kids. In fact, I picked this up at my schools scholastic book fair. (Elementary school- grades 2-4) every single one of my students still believe in Santa. And now that I’ve read this I’m very scared and nervous if anyone purchased this book. It’s such a shame too because I actually love how informative the book is.
Some other issues I have with the book is the way it brings up the chucky doll. It literally explains that chucky is a serial killer doll. Again I feel like I’m beating a dead horse here but this is marketed for CHILDREN! Why do children need to learn about a serial killer doll? And I have to emphasize that neither of topics are necessary towards the plot of this book! They are just brought up for no reason!!!!
Since I’m on my soap box I’m going to keep going here… I also HATE how the sibling relationship is portrayed. Obviously it gets better and explains that siblings are a blessing but the amount of fighting and random name calling is a bit excessive. I understand siblings fight and I do agree that this is important to talk about in children’s books to get kids to understand that even though siblings can be annoying they are a blessing in the long run, it was a bit overkill in this book.
Otherwise I really loved the way it explains chickenpox and dives into siblings relationships as well as friendships and miscommunication. I also really loved how the main character stands up for her siblings and friends. Her realizations are super important for kids to read about, I just wish it was more geared towards that than the other random and unnecessary blurbs of inappropriate comments thrown around in the book.
PARENTS BEWARE!!!
November 10, 2025
Abby, the eldest of 5 wants to have a little time to herself, but that gets more impossible than ever when she and her siblings all come down with chickenpox and have to stay home together for two weeks. Will the quarantine cause her to snap, or help her to realize some things about herself, her friendships, and her siblings.
Remy Lai wrote this autobiographical story from the perspective of her older sister. (Talk about a challenging writing assignment! To not just recreate events from your past but to get into the head of your sibling during that time period…such an interesting choice.) It was interesting to see life in 1994 Indonesia brought to life. Having chickenpox will be a novel concept to many middle grade readers today, but was such a common experience for many generations before. It will be good for them to see a taste of what it was like. Abby wasn’t always easy to follow around, but she did grow a bit and I’m adding a star just for the unique setting of this graphic novel biography.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None. There’s some teasing/confusion about like liking someone that creates an awkward friend situation with a boy in Abby’s class, but it gets worked out.
Violence: Just normal sibling rough and tumble play/fighting.
Ethnic diversity: The characters are all Indonesian.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified.
Other: An introvert-leaning child desiring space in a busy household. Normal sibling rivalry/disagreements. The siblings play a game called ghost which mom has banned because it makes a mess. They apologize, but then plan to play again in the future.
Remy Lai wrote this autobiographical story from the perspective of her older sister. (Talk about a challenging writing assignment! To not just recreate events from your past but to get into the head of your sibling during that time period…such an interesting choice.) It was interesting to see life in 1994 Indonesia brought to life. Having chickenpox will be a novel concept to many middle grade readers today, but was such a common experience for many generations before. It will be good for them to see a taste of what it was like. Abby wasn’t always easy to follow around, but she did grow a bit and I’m adding a star just for the unique setting of this graphic novel biography.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None. There’s some teasing/confusion about like liking someone that creates an awkward friend situation with a boy in Abby’s class, but it gets worked out.
Violence: Just normal sibling rough and tumble play/fighting.
Ethnic diversity: The characters are all Indonesian.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified.
Other: An introvert-leaning child desiring space in a busy household. Normal sibling rivalry/disagreements. The siblings play a game called ghost which mom has banned because it makes a mess. They apologize, but then plan to play again in the future.
June 29, 2024
I have previously expressed my dismay at all realistic fiction graphic novels being unnecessary memoirs that are set in the 80s and 90s not because the author's life was so interesting, but because the author doesn't want to deal with social media and cell phones. Rarely do these retro settings serve any function other than a song or TV show reference for the adult readers. I have been beating the "stop setting books in the 90s for no reason drum" for some time.
However, Chickenpox is a rare light in the darkness. A graphic novel set in the 1900s FOR A GOOD REASON. Color me thrilled. Because this book could not exist in the modern day, because...and as a 90s kid, this still blows my mind...kids don't get chickenpox anymore. What a relief! And THEN, it was GOOD! There's sibling drama where no one is an absolutely unredeemable jerk, friendship drama that feels realistic to how children that age interact, the struggles of calling a friend's house and having to talk to their parents. (Kids today will never know the struggle!)
What an interesting twist to make Remy herself a side character, focusing instead on her older siblings, which I think worked really well. I loved every page, and this will definitely be a no-brainer purchase for my elementary school library. Multiple copies, because I know it will fly off of my shelves.
However, Chickenpox is a rare light in the darkness. A graphic novel set in the 1900s FOR A GOOD REASON. Color me thrilled. Because this book could not exist in the modern day, because...and as a 90s kid, this still blows my mind...kids don't get chickenpox anymore. What a relief! And THEN, it was GOOD! There's sibling drama where no one is an absolutely unredeemable jerk, friendship drama that feels realistic to how children that age interact, the struggles of calling a friend's house and having to talk to their parents. (Kids today will never know the struggle!)
What an interesting twist to make Remy herself a side character, focusing instead on her older siblings, which I think worked really well. I loved every page, and this will definitely be a no-brainer purchase for my elementary school library. Multiple copies, because I know it will fly off of my shelves.
January 7, 2025
Remy Lai's graphic novels are all very different. This one is a memoir of the time when her family was quarantined at home due to chickenpox in 1995. While the book is written from the perspective of oldest sister Abby, Remi is actually in the middle of the pecking order with two older sisters and two younger brothers.
At the time when the Lai family was afflicted, there were some fascinating cultural icons still around. Like home phones with extensions, renting laser discs and VHS tapes from the video store, and TVs without remotes. I really enjoyed all the clues to what life was like in the 90's in this graphic novel. Lai also includes some facts about the virus with a page for each stage inserted throughout to show the progression.
For older folks like me this book about when chickenpox invades a family is so relatable. I had the virus in the 70's along with my three siblings. When my own kids were little the vaccine was only available for my third child. In fact my oldest son came down with chickenpox the day I brought his youngest brother home from the hospital. Not the greatest timing, but we survived.
It will be interesting to see how kids who are the same age as the Lai kids embrace this new release. I thought it was very well done. Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
At the time when the Lai family was afflicted, there were some fascinating cultural icons still around. Like home phones with extensions, renting laser discs and VHS tapes from the video store, and TVs without remotes. I really enjoyed all the clues to what life was like in the 90's in this graphic novel. Lai also includes some facts about the virus with a page for each stage inserted throughout to show the progression.
For older folks like me this book about when chickenpox invades a family is so relatable. I had the virus in the 70's along with my three siblings. When my own kids were little the vaccine was only available for my third child. In fact my oldest son came down with chickenpox the day I brought his youngest brother home from the hospital. Not the greatest timing, but we survived.
It will be interesting to see how kids who are the same age as the Lai kids embrace this new release. I thought it was very well done. Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2025
Abby Lai is sick of being trapped at home with her FOUR younger siblings! When a case of chickenpox leaves the Lai kids covered in scratchy red spots and stuck at home for two weeks of nonstop mayhem, Abby thinks this might be the end ... of her sanity. Will the itch to escape her siblings overwhelm Abby or will she realise being a big sister isn't all bad?
My gosh, this book really takes me back to my childhood! I grew up in Jakarta, Indonesia and I can tell you Remy captured the vibe perfectly. The red and white uniform, the homework, the school routine!
Even though I don’t have siblings like Abby, this story resonates with me, as I have a lot of cousins of similar age. The chickenpox ‘lockdown’ was also something I went through, as it got passed down child-to-child in my class. One of my friends did get it from another friend via a book he lent. During those pre-mobile-phone days, I also had the problem of sharing one phone in the household, just like Abby.
By now, I’m a massive fan of Remy Lai as she keeps churning out unique, relatable graphic novels that are masterpieces for me! Don’t wait, pick up this book!
(Thanks to Allen & Unwin for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
My gosh, this book really takes me back to my childhood! I grew up in Jakarta, Indonesia and I can tell you Remy captured the vibe perfectly. The red and white uniform, the homework, the school routine!
Even though I don’t have siblings like Abby, this story resonates with me, as I have a lot of cousins of similar age. The chickenpox ‘lockdown’ was also something I went through, as it got passed down child-to-child in my class. One of my friends did get it from another friend via a book he lent. During those pre-mobile-phone days, I also had the problem of sharing one phone in the household, just like Abby.
By now, I’m a massive fan of Remy Lai as she keeps churning out unique, relatable graphic novels that are masterpieces for me! Don’t wait, pick up this book!
(Thanks to Allen & Unwin for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
April 7, 2025
Follows Abby, the oldest sibling of five (two sisters (2/3), two brothers (4/5)) as she navigates friendship drama of aging up and the annoyances of siblings. Things come to a head as she and her siblings are kept at home dealing with chickenpox (there are scenes of pustules popping) simultaneously with a falling out with her two best friends. It's set in the 90s, but the main distinction is it means no vaccine or smart phones. Realizing that the author is Remy (the youngest sister, middle child) gave an interesting nuance to her being the side character in the story if it's autobiographical.
The sibling storyline has to do with Abby starting to see her siblings as people rather than annoyances and starting to appreciate them. The friendship drama has to do with her feeling less mature than her friends, miscommunications festering, and her being stuck at home unable to really straighten things out. It wasn't bad (I rate based on how much I like it, not whether others will), my low rating mostly stems from it feeling too young for me (on me for reading children's/MG books) and I'm an only child so I have a harder time getting the "curse" of siblings. I'm a sucker for stories about friendship, so if that was more of the focus, things may have been different.
The sibling storyline has to do with Abby starting to see her siblings as people rather than annoyances and starting to appreciate them. The friendship drama has to do with her feeling less mature than her friends, miscommunications festering, and her being stuck at home unable to really straighten things out. It wasn't bad (I rate based on how much I like it, not whether others will), my low rating mostly stems from it feeling too young for me (on me for reading children's/MG books) and I'm an only child so I have a harder time getting the "curse" of siblings. I'm a sucker for stories about friendship, so if that was more of the focus, things may have been different.
May 31, 2025
What a delightful and playful read. As someone who is the eldest child, I could easily relate to Abby and the demands placed upon. However, I also have two children of my own, and found myself relating to Abby’s mum just as much.
What stood out the most to me reading this book was how special (and at times, tough) it must be to have many siblings within one family. I have a brother and a sister, who I love and get along with, but I certainly remember how hard it was to co-exist in the same house. I love how Remy pauses in the story to explain relics (ha!) from the late 80’s - early 90’s, and parts of Indonesian culture that may not be familiar to the read. It was interesting how Remy wrote this from the perspective of her eldest siblings, and not herself. She unpacks this briefly at the end, explaining her relationship with her sisters was often confusing.
This would be a great read for middle graders, on the younger end of the scale, especially those that have siblings, and are the eldest in their family.
Remy Lai produces the kind of graphic novels I would have lapped up as a kid! It excites me to see what she comes up with next.
What stood out the most to me reading this book was how special (and at times, tough) it must be to have many siblings within one family. I have a brother and a sister, who I love and get along with, but I certainly remember how hard it was to co-exist in the same house. I love how Remy pauses in the story to explain relics (ha!) from the late 80’s - early 90’s, and parts of Indonesian culture that may not be familiar to the read. It was interesting how Remy wrote this from the perspective of her eldest siblings, and not herself. She unpacks this briefly at the end, explaining her relationship with her sisters was often confusing.
This would be a great read for middle graders, on the younger end of the scale, especially those that have siblings, and are the eldest in their family.
Remy Lai produces the kind of graphic novels I would have lapped up as a kid! It excites me to see what she comes up with next.
January 20, 2025
Thank you Mac Kids Books & Remy Lai for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review! 🥰🫶
.
This is the second book of Remy’s that I’ve read and enjoyed both! After reading Chickenpox, I will definitely be picking up more of her books! Chickenpox is a story about being an older sibling and learning how to balance when to be “grown-up” and when to be a kid. This book explores family dynamics mainly between siblings when they are trapped and sick together. Apart from the family component, we also have Abby navigating her friendships especially when she is absent from school. I also like that this was loosely based on the author's childhood as it gave it that added level of authenticity. Although Remy herself is a middle sibling, I love how she wrote this from the POV of the eldest and how it demonstrates the book's lesson. Real-life Remy was able to put herself in her siblings' shoes to write the book, while the MC Abby is able to see her siblings' perspectives and learns to see them as their own people. I also love how it is set in Thailand in the 90s, and how readers are taught a few things about the culture and time period. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, its artwork, and learning more about chickenpox.
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This is the second book of Remy’s that I’ve read and enjoyed both! After reading Chickenpox, I will definitely be picking up more of her books! Chickenpox is a story about being an older sibling and learning how to balance when to be “grown-up” and when to be a kid. This book explores family dynamics mainly between siblings when they are trapped and sick together. Apart from the family component, we also have Abby navigating her friendships especially when she is absent from school. I also like that this was loosely based on the author's childhood as it gave it that added level of authenticity. Although Remy herself is a middle sibling, I love how she wrote this from the POV of the eldest and how it demonstrates the book's lesson. Real-life Remy was able to put herself in her siblings' shoes to write the book, while the MC Abby is able to see her siblings' perspectives and learns to see them as their own people. I also love how it is set in Thailand in the 90s, and how readers are taught a few things about the culture and time period. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, its artwork, and learning more about chickenpox.
February 20, 2025
[ 4.5/5 stars ]
1994, Indonesia - twelve-year-old Abby Lai is the oldest sibling, the big sister of five and she thinks that her younger siblings are annoying and immature, messing with her dignity and insanity. When all Abby wants is to spend more time with her friends, she's stuck at home with her siblings when they get chickenpox.
This graphic novel is hilarious and so real. Also being a big sister myself, some of Abby's feelings resonate with me. One follows Abby navigating through the insecurities of puberty, the attachment to friends in contrast to the easy annoyance with the family, 'the wild zoo'.
The progression of the disease is smartly accompanied by the character's development. With misunderstandings and family drama, I absolutely loved they way Lai approached family and friendship; and many parts of this book warmed my heart.
Inspired by Lai's childhood, CHICKENPOX is an informative and relatable middle-grade graphic novel that I very much enjoyed.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Mackids books . All opinions are my own ]
1994, Indonesia - twelve-year-old Abby Lai is the oldest sibling, the big sister of five and she thinks that her younger siblings are annoying and immature, messing with her dignity and insanity. When all Abby wants is to spend more time with her friends, she's stuck at home with her siblings when they get chickenpox.
This graphic novel is hilarious and so real. Also being a big sister myself, some of Abby's feelings resonate with me. One follows Abby navigating through the insecurities of puberty, the attachment to friends in contrast to the easy annoyance with the family, 'the wild zoo'.
The progression of the disease is smartly accompanied by the character's development. With misunderstandings and family drama, I absolutely loved they way Lai approached family and friendship; and many parts of this book warmed my heart.
Inspired by Lai's childhood, CHICKENPOX is an informative and relatable middle-grade graphic novel that I very much enjoyed.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Mackids books . All opinions are my own ]
March 6, 2025
This book took me back to my childhood. I shared a lot of similarities with the author as the oldest sister to too many younger siblings. This covers a lot of ground around the complexity of feeling duty-bound to care for your siblings and help your parents, while also resenting the role you are in and how it impacts your relationship with your siblings.
I loved the specificity of this middle grade memoir. This is a very 90s story. You have chickenpox and side ponytails and overalls and a mix of old and new technology. I guess I should feel a little sad I'm of the age that my childhood is now a historical setting for children's literature, but I loved the callbacks and the nostalgia. But the story did a good job at also weaving in more universal experiences - fear over a sibling's health, conflict with friends, and the never-ending fighting with your siblings.
I loved the vivid colors, the loud foregrounds, and the variety of panels/pages. It kept the reader engaged and always fit the story beats at any given moment.
I loved the specificity of this middle grade memoir. This is a very 90s story. You have chickenpox and side ponytails and overalls and a mix of old and new technology. I guess I should feel a little sad I'm of the age that my childhood is now a historical setting for children's literature, but I loved the callbacks and the nostalgia. But the story did a good job at also weaving in more universal experiences - fear over a sibling's health, conflict with friends, and the never-ending fighting with your siblings.
I loved the vivid colors, the loud foregrounds, and the variety of panels/pages. It kept the reader engaged and always fit the story beats at any given moment.
May 20, 2025
Unfortunate, I wasn’t a fan of this book.
I get that Abby struggles to be a big sister and hates her siblings coz they are annoying…but the parents didn’t do ANYTHING to help discipline the kids or sort out arguments or even sit down with Abby and TALK to her about her feelings and why she is angry and frustrated…I get the mum was busy with the house and food because the dad was away and they had chickenpox but still…
I think the parents just neglected their children and expected Abby to just look after her siblings while her mum did all the housework but there was zero communication in helping ANY of the kids deal with their emotions or any solution as to help them calm down and NOT fight etc
Also, I don’t get why they didn’t also use the chamomile ointment for the chickenpox to help with the scratching? Did it not exist in Indonesia back then?
The friendship drama of course was all was a misunderstanding etc but I just found Abby to be too annoying 🤷🏽♀️
I am sure many kids will relate because a lot of them are older sisters!
Just wasn’t for me!
I get that Abby struggles to be a big sister and hates her siblings coz they are annoying…but the parents didn’t do ANYTHING to help discipline the kids or sort out arguments or even sit down with Abby and TALK to her about her feelings and why she is angry and frustrated…I get the mum was busy with the house and food because the dad was away and they had chickenpox but still…
I think the parents just neglected their children and expected Abby to just look after her siblings while her mum did all the housework but there was zero communication in helping ANY of the kids deal with their emotions or any solution as to help them calm down and NOT fight etc
Also, I don’t get why they didn’t also use the chamomile ointment for the chickenpox to help with the scratching? Did it not exist in Indonesia back then?
The friendship drama of course was all was a misunderstanding etc but I just found Abby to be too annoying 🤷🏽♀️
I am sure many kids will relate because a lot of them are older sisters!
Just wasn’t for me!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2024
Lai can do no wrong-- especially when it's the experiences that are shared with plenty of other people. In this case, it's about a big family with lots of siblings and she being the biggest/oldest sister. AND it's about getting chickenpox and having to hang out together in the house, not being able to go to school but also going mad spending all the together time with her siblings that drive her batty.
It is sweet and hilarious at every turn. It also talks about the stages of chickenpox and sibling relationships. Then snuck in there among the family drama is Remy's friendships as a fourth grader which include a friend "accusing" her of liking a boy and then saying the wrong things that are misinterpreted including birthday plans and unnecessary but oh-so-relatable drama. It's as realistic as it could be and that's why the book is to be adored. Who wouldn't fall in love with it? And shares bits and pieces of Indonesia life along the way.
It is sweet and hilarious at every turn. It also talks about the stages of chickenpox and sibling relationships. Then snuck in there among the family drama is Remy's friendships as a fourth grader which include a friend "accusing" her of liking a boy and then saying the wrong things that are misinterpreted including birthday plans and unnecessary but oh-so-relatable drama. It's as realistic as it could be and that's why the book is to be adored. Who wouldn't fall in love with it? And shares bits and pieces of Indonesia life along the way.
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